Family of Kendrick Johnson Renews Legal Battle, Citing Missing Organs and New Forensic Claims

 

By Carol A. Gasser Moore |

VALDOSTA, Lowndes County, Georgia – The parents of a Georgia teenager found dead inside a rolled gym mat more than a decade ago have revived their legal campaign, alleging that newly surfaced evidence points to foul play and longstanding official misconduct.

Kendrick Johnson, 17, was discovered headfirst inside an upright wrestling mat at Lowndes High School in Valdosta in January 2013. Authorities ruled his death accidental, citing positional asphyxia, and concluded he became trapped while trying to retrieve a shoe.

But Kendrick’s parents, Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson, have never accepted that explanation. In a newly amended federal lawsuit filed July 25, the family accuses the Georgia Department of Public Health of failing to correct what they call a false cause of death and ignoring legal procedures required to amend their son’s death certificate.

New Autopsy Evidence Sparks Legal Push

The lawsuit highlights what the Johnsons describe as “a wealth of new material evidence” gathered in recent months. Among the most striking claims is the inclusion of images from Kendrick’s original autopsy, which reportedly show internal injuries inconsistent with asphyxia and consistent with blunt force trauma.

An independent forensic pathologist hired by the family, Dr. William Anderson, concluded that Kendrick suffered non-accidental injuries, including a collapsed and bleeding carotid artery. The lawsuit also references photographs that allegedly show shoe tread marks on the teen’s body, suggesting he may have been stomped.

These findings sharply contrast with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s autopsy, which found no significant injuries and reaffirmed the original accidental death ruling.

Missing Organs, Unanswered Questions

A central issue in the case — and one that has gained renewed attention — is the condition of Kendrick’s body after it was exhumed for a second autopsy later in 2013. According to the lawsuit, Dr. Anderson discovered that Kendrick’s internal organs were missing and his body had been filled with newspaper.

To date, the state has not provided a public explanation for the missing organs. The Johnsons say repeated efforts to obtain records under Georgia’s Open Records Act have been met with silence or resistance. They allege that the refusal to disclose details or correct the death certificate points to a broader effort to conceal the truth.

“The whereabouts of Kendrick’s organs remain unknown,” the complaint states, adding that state officials failed to follow proper procedures to account for or return the remains after the initial autopsy.

State Response and Legal Standing

The Georgia Department of Public Health declined to comment on the pending litigation. The Johnsons allege the agency ignored two formal requests submitted in fall 2023 seeking to revise Kendrick’s death certificate based on independent forensic findings. Under Georgia law, a formal denial would have allowed the family to appeal, but no such denial has been issued.

The lawsuit accuses state officials of violating both Georgia statutes and the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment by refusing to act or respond, thus blocking the family from legal recourse.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation issued a statement reaffirming its original findings, calling the investigation thorough and declaring the case closed.

History of Legal Challenges

This is not the first time the Johnson family has taken legal action. In previous years, they filed a $1 billion lawsuit against local and state law enforcement officials, alleging a cover-up in the investigation. That case is still pending.

Federal authorities also examined the case but closed their investigation in 2016, citing insufficient evidence for criminal charges.

The Johnsons have alleged that Kendrick, who was Black, was targeted and killed by fellow students, whom they claim received protection from officials. No suspects have ever been charged in connection with his death.

Seeking Justice and Transparency

In their latest legal action, the Johnsons are seeking $12 million in damages and are requesting a jury trial. Their lawsuit contends that Kendrick’s body was mishandled, his injuries downplayed, and his cause of death misrepresented — and that state officials have failed to answer for any of it.

The case continues to raise troubling questions:

• Who removed Kendrick Johnson’s internal organs?
• Why were his remains reportedly filled with newspaper?
• Why hasn’t the death certificate been amended or formally rejected?
• What role, if any, did officials at various levels of government play in obstructing the truth?

Despite years of investigations, lawsuits, and media scrutiny, these questions remain unanswered. For Kendrick’s family, the pursuit of accountability — and the search for clarity — is far from over.